Four expatriates injured in fatal Dubai car accident still recovering in hospital

Driver who caused crash only recently acquired a licence.

DUBAI // The four young men injured in Monday’s three-car smash in which four people were killed were recovering in hospital on Wednesday.

A hospital spokesperson confirmed that one of the teenagers, an American, was the brother of one of the four people killed. Two of those injured were discharged from Rashid Hospital on Wednesday and reportedly attended one of the victim’s funerals.

An Emirati driver, 18, was speeding and not paying attention to the road, which led him to swerve to the right and hit a second vehicle parked on the hard shoulder of the two-lane road, police said.

The first vehicle flipped over and the second hit a third car. Eight people standing talking near by were run over. The incident happened on Academic City Road, heading towards Al Warqa roundabout, at about 11.30pm.

Dubai Police chief Maj Gen Khamis Al Muzeina said that, according to those who survived the incident, the young men were standing by the side of the road after one of their vehicles became stuck in the sand.

Police did not disclose the names of those who died, but said that an American, a Lebanese, a Jordanian and a Palestinian were killed.

In addition to those killed, an American was seriously injured, while an Egyptian, Canadian and Russian all sustained moderate injuries.

The young men involved in the crash were all between the ages of 17 and 19. Col Khalid Ahmad Al Suhoul, director of Al Rashidiya Police Station, said that three of the young men who were killed attended Dawha School in Sharjah. They had graduated in June.

The Emirati, who was driving a Nissan Patrol, was also taken to hospital after sustaining minor injuries, after which he was transferred to Dubai Transport Prosecution.

Maj Gen Khalil Al Mansouri, assistant to Dubai Police chief for criminal investigations affairs, said that there was no evidence to indicate that the Emirati motorist was racing with another vehicle.

“The young man had recently received his driving licence, and the reasons behind the unfortunate crash were that he was driving recklessly and speeding,” he said.

Col Jamal Al Bannai, acting director of the general department of traffic, said that most road accidents involved motorists who had recently received their driving licence.

“It is important that parents pay attention to their children when they first receive their licence,” he said. “It is normal for a teenager to want to hit the road in his own car when he has just received a legal permit to do so.

“It’s true he has a licence, but he should be monitored and told at home by parents that he should be careful. Maybe not drive long distances at first or not drive late at night.”